January 14th local time, current Vice President Pence called Vice President-elect Harris to congratulate her.
On January 20, U.S. Presidents-elect Biden and Harris will be officially sworn in on the same day.
The Associated Press reported on January 15 that Pence’s call to Harris was the first “contact” between the current Trump administration and the incoming Biden administration.
Since Biden officially won the U.S. election, the current President of the United States, Trump, has not contacted Biden or invited him to the White House.
In contrast, Pence not only resisted the pressure and told Trump that he had no right to prevent Congress from certifying President-elect Biden’s victory, but also extended an olive branch to Harris on the 14th to express his willingness to help.
The Associated Press pointed out that Pence was trying to do his job at the inauguration ceremony and continued the traditional etiquette of handing over between governments.
On the 14th, Pence received a briefing on the security of the inauguration ceremony from the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington, and met with the White House telephone operator and sent a thank-you letter.
Subsequently, Pence saluted the members of the National Guard who are currently working on the Capitol. Over the weekend, he will also travel to various places to address American soldiers.
In 2008, then-Vice President Dick Cheney reportedly called the night of Biden’s victory (Vice President) to congratulate him and invited Biden and his wife Jill to visit the Vice President’s residence at the United States Naval Observatory shortly before the inauguration ceremony in 2009.
In November 2016, Biden and Pence had lunch at the Naval Observatory after meeting with their respective wives at the White House.
Biden then told Pence that he would be on call if the other party needed it and would help when he moved.
It is not known whether Pence will invite Harris to continue this tradition, but at least he has said he will attend the inauguration ceremony between Biden and Harris.
Biden had “welcome” Trump saying he would not attend the ceremony, while he said he would be “a privileged” to have Pence present.
